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Heythrop Hunt makes its first stop at pub for 37 years

THEY had not ridden off from the Killingworth Castle pub in more than 30 years, but this year riders from the Heythrop Hunt revisited the pub in Wootton to relive old memories and recreate a recently discovered photo.

Pub landlord Jim Alexander and his wife Claire were thrilled to see the return of the historical hunt on Monday.

The couple, who have run the pub on Glympton Road for the last 18 months, found the photo while looking around the premises.

Mr Alexander said: “We’re really chuffed to have them back and we’ve been working really hard to get the pub involved in local events.”

More than 50 people turned up to witness the first time the hunt has met at the pub since 1977.

Tom MacFarlane, 40 of Woodstock, said: “Hopefully now it will be an annual thing.

“The Heythrop Hunt is a very strong local tradition that is very well supported. It is a rural activity that is extremely popular and keeps the community together.”

The Heythrop Hunt at the Killingworth Castle in 1975

The hunt has been riding out four days each week across Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire in an area that includes Chippin Norton, Northleach, Bibury, Oxford, Banbury and Moreton-in-Marsh since 1835.

Comments

museli
10:27pm Fri 14 Mar 14

This is the bunch of blood thirsty knobs who were flouting the Hunting Act so obviously they actually got convicted a couple of years back despite the best efforts of our police force to avoid upsetting them. I'd be keeping their visit quiet if I were the landlord - why would you want to tell the world you welcome people who get their rocks off encouraging dogs to terrorise and kill our wildlife!

This is the bunch of blood thirsty knobs who were flouting the Hunting Act so obviously they actually got convicted a couple of years back despite the best efforts of our police force to avoid upsetting them. I'd be keeping their visit quiet if I were the landlord - why would you want to tell the world you welcome people who get their rocks off encouraging dogs to terrorise and kill our wildlife!museli

This is the bunch of blood thirsty knobs who were flouting the Hunting Act so obviously they actually got convicted a couple of years back despite the best efforts of our police force to avoid upsetting them. I'd be keeping their visit quiet if I were the landlord - why would you want to tell the world you welcome people who get their rocks off encouraging dogs to terrorise and kill our wildlife!

Score: 10

LoftyLady
11:41am Sat 15 Mar 14

How sad that at a time most 'normal' people are realising that hunting has no place in the 21st century and has in fact been banned this pub is choosing to accept and condone the illegal activities and violent thugs of the Heythrop Hunt. They say they want to be part of the local community and yet have decided to alienate the 80% of people who abhor animal torture and murder in preference of those who relish it. Such a shame as it looks like a nice pub. Still, there is always a chance that some animal lovers will take over when these current owners go out of business as a result of their choice of clientele.You only need to type the words 'Heythrop Hunt' in the search box to see some of their previous misdemeanors including rampaging through Churchills graveyard and breeding foxes for the hunt plus many more!

How sad that at a time most 'normal' people are realising that hunting has no place in the 21st century and has in fact been banned this pub is choosing to accept and condone the illegal activities and violent thugs of the Heythrop Hunt. They say they want to be part of the local community and yet have decided to alienate the 80% of people who abhor animal torture and murder in preference of those who relish it. Such a shame as it looks like a nice pub. Still, there is always a chance that some animal lovers will take over when these current owners go out of business as a result of their choice of clientele.You only need to type the words 'Heythrop Hunt' in the search box to see some of their previous misdemeanors including rampaging through Churchills graveyard and breeding foxes for the hunt plus many more!LoftyLady

How sad that at a time most 'normal' people are realising that hunting has no place in the 21st century and has in fact been banned this pub is choosing to accept and condone the illegal activities and violent thugs of the Heythrop Hunt. They say they want to be part of the local community and yet have decided to alienate the 80% of people who abhor animal torture and murder in preference of those who relish it. Such a shame as it looks like a nice pub. Still, there is always a chance that some animal lovers will take over when these current owners go out of business as a result of their choice of clientele.You only need to type the words 'Heythrop Hunt' in the search box to see some of their previous misdemeanors including rampaging through Churchills graveyard and breeding foxes for the hunt plus many more!

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